Portulaca plant named ‘Balrioscar’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Portulaca  plant named ‘Balrioscar’ characterized by its bright scarlet-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage with grayed purple-colored margin, and vigorous, low spreading growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Portulaca oleracea.

Variety denomination: ‘Balrioscar’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Portulaca plant botanically known as Portulaca oleracea and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balrioscar’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Cartago, Costa Rica during January 2002. The objective of the breeding program was the development of free flowering Portulaca cultivars with well-branched, and vigorous, spreading growth habit.

The new cultivar was the result of a self-pollination of the proprietary Portulaca oleracea breeding selection designated ‘Wild Fire Scarlet’, not patented, characterized by its light scarlet-colored flowers, and compact, trailing growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated self-pollination during June 2002 in a controlled environment at Cartago, Costa Rica.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since June 2002 at Cartago, Costa Rica and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balrioscar’ as a new and distinct cultivar of ‘Portulaca’ plant:

-   -   1. Bright scarlet-colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage with grayed purple-colored         margin; and     -   3. Vigorous, low spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parent primarily in flower color and growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Portulaca cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Summer Joy Wine Red’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,251. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Summer Joy Wine Red’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have more fully opened flowers per         plant at any one time than plants of ‘Summer Joy Wine Red’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have more secondary branches than         plants of ‘Summer Joy Wine Red’;     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a different flower color from         plants of ‘Summer Joy Wine Red’; and     -   4. Plants of the new cultivar have a different stigma color from         plants of ‘Summer Joy Wine Red’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balrioscar’. The plants were grown in 10 cm pots for 11 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balrioscar’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balrioscar’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Aug. 8, 2005 between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. under natural light conditions, in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a double polycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 10 cm pots for 11 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 80° F. (21° C. to 26° C.) during the day and approximately 62° F. to 68° F. (17° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 5,000 to 10,000 footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Potulaca oleracea cultivar Balrioscar. -   Parentage:     -   -   Parent.—‘Wild Fire Scarlet’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 4 to 7 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 14 to 21             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Crop time.—Approximately 5 to 6 weeks from a rooted cutting.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous, low             spreading.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 8.4 cm. Height to top of foliage:             Approximately 5.1 cm. Width: Approximately 41.5 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Approximately 4             main branches per plant and approximately 22 secondary             branches per plant.         -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Shape: Square in cross section.             Length: Approximately 25.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately             3.7 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of stem: 145B at tip and             187A at base. Internode length at center of branch:             Approximately 1.9 cm.         -   Foliage.—Number of leaves per main branch: Approximately 14.             Fragrance: None. Form: Simple, fleshy succulent.             Arrangement: Alternate. Aspect: Obtuse angle to stem. Shape:             Elliptic when young becoming obovate with age. Margin:             Entire. Apex: Cuspidate. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern:             Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately 2.0 cm. Width             of mature leaf: Approximately 1.3 cm. Depth of mature leaf:             Approximately 1.6 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Glabrous. Color of upper surface of young foliage: Closest             to 137C with venation of 150C. Color of lower surface of             young foliage: Closest to 138B with venation of 150C. Color             of upper surface of mature foliage: Closest to 146A with             187B along margin and venation of 150C. Color of lower             surface of mature foliage: Closest to 138B with 187B along             margin and venation of 150C. Petiole length: Approximately             2.0 mm. Petiole diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Petiole             texture of both surfaces: Glabrous. Petiole color of both             surfaces: 150C. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balrioscar’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Time to first flower.—Approximately 12 weeks after sticking             of unrooted cutting.         -   Lastingness of individual bloom.—Approximately 1 day. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type.—Solitary, rotate, sessile not persistent. Quantity of             fully open flowers per plant at eleven weeks: Approximately             5.         -   Bud rate of opening.—Generally takes 1 day for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovate. Length: Approximately             1.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 6.4 mm. Texture: Glabrous.             Color: 45C.         -   Corolla.—Form: Single. Diameter: Approximately 5.9 cm.             Corolla depth: Approximately: 1.7 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base:             Truncate. Margin: Entire. Appearance: Shiny. Texture of             upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Petal length:             Approximately 2.4 cm. Petal width: Approximately 2.3 cm.             Color of upper and lower surfaces: 61B at apex transitioning             to 45B in center with 17C just above base and 143B at             attachment point.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 2. Shape: Ovate. Apex:             Acuminate. Sepal length: Approximately 9.4 mm. Sepal width:             Approximately 7.2 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Glabrous. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 144B,             translucent with overlay of 28A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity:             Approximately 69. Stamen length: Approximately 5.0 mm.             Filament color: 9A. Anther shape: Oval, bilobed. Anther             length: Approximately 0.5 mm. Anther color: 21B. Pollen             amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Closest to 23A. Gynoecium:             Pistil quantity: One per flower. Pistil length:             Approximately 1.1 cm. Stigma shape: Five branched. Stigma             length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Stigma color: 12A. Style             length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Style color: 12A. Ovary             diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary color: N144D. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Portulaca has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Portulaca plant named ‘Balrioscar’, substantially as herein shown and described. 